In 1900 national markets started to develop throughout the country. A market is where a buyer meets a seller. The buyer buys a product from the seller and becomes a consumer. Advertising is getting someone to like and buy your product. The different types of advertising in the late 1800s, early 1900s is word of mouth, poster, newspaper, and billboard. People wanted to convince consumers to buy their product instead of their competitors because every company has competitors.   Have you ever been a seller? What have you sold? Tell about your experience.

In the 1800s, milk spoiled really fast and made people ill because there were no refrigerators. Gail Borden invented condensed milk and put it in a can. It was much safer and healthier than fresh product because it lasted longer.  At first people thought milk in a can was gross so Borden had to advertise his product. After advertising condensed milk it turned out to be a success. If you lived during this time would you have tried Bordens milk? Why or why not?

Gustavus Swift was a cattle dealer that wanted to convince people to buy meat from him instead of their local butcher. In the 1870s, cattle were shipped by train to eastern cities, where they were slaughtered by local butchers. Often the cattle got sick and lost weight while traveling, which lowered their value. Butchers’ slaughter houses were small and didn’t save all parts of the cow. Labor cost were high for local butchers, too. Swift found a better way. He built a huge slaughterhouse in Chicago where he butchered cattle and shipped the meat to the east.  Swift also advertised to convince people that his meat was as safe as the local butcher’s. He also sold his meat at a lot lower price than local butchers did. Over time many people bought meat from him.

In 1897, Boston opened the nation’s first subway train. After awhile many other cities built trolley systems. It was now possible for people to live miles away from work or the nearest store. Department stores were opened in the cities and they sold a lot of different products such as clothing, appliance, ect.  Department stores also had mail order catalogs.  People who lived far away could order from a catalog without having to go to the store.  If you lived far from a department store would you rather take the subway into the city order from a mail order catalog?  Explain.